Ukraine at Eurovision 2025: The full production team behind the performance of Ziferblat has been revealed. Who are the familiar faces — and how much will the staging in Basel cost?
The anticipation surrounding Ukraine’s performance at Eurovision 2025 in Basel is rising, and this time, new details about the production team for the song “Bird of Pray”, to be performed by Ziferblat, have been revealed. The show, which is already being dubbed one of the most talked-about of the year, is artistically directed by Maria Korostelova, who has established herself as one of the most sought-after directors in Ukraine. Who is the renowned costume designer behind the performance — and what is the cost of the staging in Basel? All the details are below.
Who Is Behind the Staging?
Maria Korostelova, who in recent years has directed countless performances for the Ukrainian national selection “Vidbir” and worked on stage with famous Ukrainian artists, has been tasked with staging Ziferblat’s performance at Eurovision. Her name is well-known in the Ukrainian entertainment industry, and she is considered someone who combines artistic depth with the creation of unforgettable live moments.
Who Designed the Costumes?
In addition to the staging, it has been revealed that Ivan Frolov is the designer behind the costumes for Ziferblat’s upcoming Eurovision performance. Frolov is well known to Eurovision fans thanks to his work with previous Ukrainian representatives such as TVORCHI, Jamala, and Tina Karol. Once again, the costumes are expected to be distinctive and contribute to the unique atmosphere on stage.
Costs and Dramatic Changes
The anticipated production for Ziferblat is anything but cheap. According to reports, the costs of staging and travel for the group are estimated between 105,000 and 115,000 Euros — a significant sum that reflects the scale of investment. At this stage, no further details have been published about the performance structure, but in a special interview we conducted with Valentyn Leshchynskyi, guitarist, founder of the group, and songwriter of Ukraine’s 2025 entry, he shared that the changes are “radical” compared to their national selection performance. Watch the full interview:
Ziferblat Makes History
Ziferblat earned the right to represent Ukraine after winning the “Vidbir 2025” national selection, becoming the first trio in the country’s history to compete on the grand Eurovision stage.
New Album Released Ahead of Eurovision
As part of their preparations for the contest, Ziferblat recently released a new album titled “Of Us”. The album features seven tracks, including their Eurovision entry “Bird of Pray”, as well as “Place I Call Home”, which they performed in the 2024 national selection. On social media, the group wrote about the new album:
“Our first English-language work, which was created in the shortest possible time of music making. This forced us to make a minimum of adjustments, mostly presenting everything to you as it is.”
The quote reflects the significant challenge the band faced in producing the album in such a short period, and it has already garnered much attention from fans.
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Ukraine at Eurovision 2025
“Bird of Pray” is the name of the song that will be performed by Ziferblat, representing Ukraine in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025, to be held on May 13 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was written by the three band members: Valentyn Leshchynskyi, Danylo Leshchynskyi, and Fedir Khodakov. This is the band members’ first song on the Eurovision stage. The song is performed in English and Ukrainian.
The song “Bird of Pray” deals with hope and a plea for life, love, and freedom in difficult times. The band asks the addressee (the bird or the beloved) to fly, live, and share their heart with someone who cares. There’s a sense of longing for freedom and deep human connection. The song combines feelings of nostalgia, hope, and a request for care and love, using the powerful imagery of a flying bird as a symbol of freedom and hope.
Currently, Ukraine is ranked 13th in the betting tables for Eurovision 2025.
Ziferblat – Who are you?
The Ukrainian band Ziferblat was formed in 2015 and consists of three members: Valentyn Leshchynskyi (guitarist), Danylo Leshchynskyi (lead vocalist), and Fedir Khodakov (drummer). The band has released about nine singles, one EP (in 2017), and an album called “Peretvorennia”. They attempted to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2023 but didn’t make it to the final. In 2024, they competed in the national selection with the song “Place I Call Home“, finishing second.
Source: suspilne
Eurovision 2025: This will be Ukraine’s 20th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Ukraine joined the competition in 2003 and has won it three times. Ukraine’s last victory was in Eurovision 2022 with the song “Stefania” performed by Kalush Orchestra.
